In an email sent this afternoon from Councilmember Steve Levin’s office, Levin expressed his disappointment and outrage over the city’s poor response to Sunday’s snowstorm.
“I am outraged at the lack of response in the neighborhoods which I represent-Brooklyn Heights , Park Slope, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg. It is unacceptable that, a full day after the storm, major avenues throughout my district have yet to see a snow plow. I commend all the DSNY, FDNY, and NYPD workers giving their all out in the snow today, and we are all grateful for their work, but they have not been given enough resources. Clearly, City Hall and the leadership at the Sanitation Department were entirely unprepared for a storm of this magnitude, and we are all paying the price for that now,” said Councilmember Levin.
“Nobody expects that every side street will be plowed within a day-we are all realistic. However, from Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint to 4th Avenue in Park Slope, major arteries are impassable. This is not only an inconvenience for residents, but it is downright dangerous if emergency vehicles cannot even get down a major avenue. Simply put, this isn’t the worst storm we’ve ever had, but it seems to be the worst response to any major storm in recent memory,” Councilmember Levin continued.
Councilmember Levin represents Park Slope, Gowanus, Brooklyn Heights , Boerum Hill, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, Williamsburg , and Greenpoint, all of which have yet to have their major streets plowed.
Lumi, unless you have an emergency service or another critical job, you shouldn’t be trying to take your car to work. That has been a huge part of the problem.
I share Levin’s outrage. [Where is Brad Lander on this one?]. I tried to get my car down the street and made it four feet before getting stuck. Now I can’t get to work for a second day in a row. Also, the entrance to my block is blocked by a four-foot high snow bank, left by the plows on 7th Avenue. There is absolutely no way for an emergency vehicle to enter our block.
I hope that our local community groups, the Community Boards and pols take this up with the City. You would think that the press would be reporting on the systemic breakdown and the Mayor’s excuses. The idea that the Mayor didn’t declare a snow emergency is really unbelievable. If a snow-dumping Noreaster isn’t a snow emergency, then what is?